The global situation is continuously updated
As part of the Academy's effort to maintain a qualified, continuous and long-term relevant analysis of the international security situation, in-depth analyses of the world around us are continuously published on the website. Since autumn 2020, this monitoring of the world around us has mainly consisted of regular posts written by the member Michael Sahl, Ph.D. and ambassador, former Director General of the Folke Bernadotte Academy and former Secretary of State.
Michael Sahlin has extensive experience in international operations, with a particular focus on foreign and security policy analysis. The first analysis was published on October 18, 2020, in connection with the then-upcoming presidential election in the United States. Since then, the coverage of the world has gradually developed and deepened, both in content and analytical breadth, in step with changes in the international security environment.
From January 2026, external monitoring will be strengthened by the member, ambassador Lars Erik Lundin regularly contributes analyses. In connection with this, the international monitoring is given a clearer thematic focus on the USA and its role in global security policy developments.
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Afghanistan 5 years after the US surrender to the Taliban: Some reflections – And some weeks before the 9/11 25 year anniversary
"Washington /needs/ to apply stricter standards when deciding to get [...]
Trump's nightmare and the big mess in the Middle East
For Donald Trump – if he were a normal politician [...]
The Air War That Is Teaching Itself
Impressed by the complexities of current trends in the domain [...]
Turkey one week after the NATO Summit, 10 years after the attempted coup
Only a week after the high-prestige NATO summit in Ankara [...]
US Rule of law contested: Weaponization vs Anti-Weaponization – A battle of narratives, and definition of truth
Once upon a time, when all security policy eyes were [...]
System collapse — Michael Sahlin talks with Lars-Erik Lundin
This week's in-depth discussion – System collapse with Michael Sahlin and Lars-Erik Lundin [...]
Gaza locked in a Catch 22 Stranglehold
Entering the end of May, the Middle East dramaturgy keeps [...]
Fragile ceasefires in the Middle East – Pending escalation or de-escalation over Iran
At the time of writing the world is holding its [...]
Trump's US and today's “Forever wars”. What about Iran?
At the point of writing, the whole world is asking, [...]
The tail that wags the dog: US, Israel and Iran between war and… truce
As of this writing, Thursday evening 9/4, a couple of days after [...]
In the shadow of Gaza, Iran, Ukraine et al: Disasters remain in Sudan and South Sudan (et al)
It is – again – time to take a deep breath [...]
Trump vs Iran after one month of war: To escalate or de-escalate, that is the question
The Trump/Netanyahu war of choice against Iran and its contested [...]
Quo Vadis US, On War (Iran) and Peace (Ukraine), et al – Anticipating Donald J Trump's “most consequential” State of the Union speech
"It is going to be a long speech, for me [...]
Strategic Stability at the Abyss: The Post–New START Nuclear Landscape – (“85 seconds before midnight”)
On 5 February 2026, the New START treaty expired. For [...]
Palestinian and Kurdish Dreams of Nation – and Statehood – a Nightmare? ("Hypocrisy is the homage paid by vice to virtue")
At the time of writing, two important events occurred [...]